Acting President Rudy started the meeting at 1:35 pm. First of all, he welcomed our ex AG PP Peter Tse (TST East) and there were no other guests and visiting Rotarians in this meeting. Then, Acting President invited PP Tim Lui to present his announcement to all members. As the Chairman of PP Council, he would like to inform all PPs of our Club to attend a PP get-together dinner on 15 May 2004 (Sat.). Each PP allows bringing one more guest to attend this get-together dinner. All PPs are invited.
After that, Acting President Rudy would like to draw our member's attention to the Club News recently released through email and the Vol. 51 No 34 Tung Feng. (Internet version will be posted to the web soon.). All members are reminded of the booking procedures of all events in our 50th Anniversary Celebration through President Henry's secretary Connie. He also pledged for the support from all members for attending the Welcome Reception on 15 April and to assist the Visit to the Hong Kong School for the Deaf on 16 April. This time we have to take care of about 70 overseas delegates. All members are encouraged to act as host for the Club to receive all overseas delegates. On April 17, during the 50th anniversary celebration dinner, the dress code for all members are "black tie" while all guests and other Rotarians are formal dress or in business attire. All members are also encouraged to participate in the welcoming of overseas delegates at the Airport at their convenient time slots.
Then, Acting President invited Sergeant-at-Arm PP CY to report the red box contribution from members. HK$600 were collected from members.
We then go on to our normal program and Acting President Rudy introduced our Guest Speaker, Mr. Dominic Mario Notario, who is a Rotary Scholar from USA. Mr. Notario is a Rotary Scholar representing RC of Princeton, New Jersey. He participated in this Rotary Scholar program from June last year. He was a Chemistry student at the University of Princeton and arrived Hong Kong in last September 2003. Mr. Notario shared his background (Italian like name, Asian face with US passport) with us that generated a lot of funny experience during his stay in Asia. The immigration staff in various Asian countries always felt perplexed on his identity. At CUHK, the same situations happened with the local and Mainland China students. He is in fact a mix by Chinese, Greek and Spanish. Mr. Notario found that his travel experience here made him understand that there was too much generalization to American by Asian people. Many Asian people he met treated all American as all blonde and Bush supporters only. He perceived that this was due to poor communication. In fact, this helped him know more about cultural difference and taught him to see things from other people's perspective. He also shared his reasons of coming to Hong Kong. As a half Cantonese (his mother is Chinese Cantonese), he would like to know more about his mother's heritage. What happened in Zhung Shan where his great grandfather was living? He also wanted to experience more about Chinese culture. In the future, he would also like to work in Asia, especially in Beijing. He would like to start a regional job in Hong Kong in order to get familiar with the Asian environment. He plans to stay in Asia for 5 to 6 years at least and get experience in finance field. Afterwards, he will return to USA for a MBA. Ultimately he would like to work in the US State Department. He also shared his view on the relationship between US and Taiwan Vs Mainland China.
Finally he told us he was very enthusiastic in our club because of his heavy involvement with the Rotaract Club of Hong Kong Island East. In general, he had great experience to be with the Rotary family during his stay in Hong Kong.
Acting President Rudy thanked the speaker and presented an action photo and Club banner to Mr. Notario. Acting President thanked everyone and closed the meeting by proposing a toast to RI coupled with the Rotary Club of TST East.
April 15, 2004 (Thursday); 7 p.m.
Welcome Reception to the International Delegations (Evening)
*Venue: Craigengower Cricket Club (CCC at Happy Valley)
*Sister Clubs Visitors (about 78 people)
*Members and their annes are invited free of charge (we have reserved 30 seats).
*Due to space limitation of CCC function room, we cannot expand beyond 9 tables - Members are advised to confirm their participation ASAP.
*Co-ordinated by PP Stephen LiuApril 16, 2004 (Friday)
Charity Golf Event (Morning)
*Venue: The HK Golf Club (Fanling)
*We have arranged an 18-hole game for 13 tee times (a special package) including green fee, meal, caddy or golf cart. So there will be no charge to our members and guests.
*Yet as a charity golf event, each participant has to donate HK$1,000 to the Island East 50th Anniversary Community Project (Multi-media Room at HK School for the Deaf). Please appreciate that there is no exception to Golf Club members as the savings in their green fees are required to subsidize the event.
*We expect 35 golfers from our overseas sister clubs and only up to 17 places available for our members.
*Co-ordinated by PP John Kwok & PP Stephen LiuApril 16, 2004 (Friday)
Social Visit for Non-golfers (Morning)
*Venue: the Chi Lin Timber Monastery (Diamond Hill)
*We have also arranged a visit to our 50th Anniversary Community Project (Multi-media Room) at the HK School for the Deaf (also Diamond Hill)
*Members and their annes are invited and free of charge.
*Casual lunch will be reserved in a vegetarian restaurant of the Diamond Hill Shopping Centre.
*Co-ordinated by HS Eddy Wong and Rtn Francis Li
April 17, 2004 (Saturday)
50th Anniversary Celebration Dinner
*Venue: the Aberdeen Marina Club (Ballroom)
*Cocktail Reception at 6:45 pm & Dinner Bell at 7:30 pm (Black Tie)
*The Club has reserved 20 tables (serving Chinese dinner)
*The dinner is free for members. Please reserve seats for your annes and guests (HK$600 per person). We expect 78 guests from overseas and 55 guests from our District. There will be only 107 seats available for our members and their guests due to limitation in space at the venue..
*Invitation card of the celebration dinner is already printed, available for member use to invite their guests.
*Co-ordinated by PE Rudy Law & Rtn Jason Chiu
*Raffle prize donation, please contact Rtn KishuBooking Procedure:
Please inform Ms Connie Sin (Secretary of President Henry) on 2966-8545 or via email [connie.yc.sin@hkjc.org.hk] before March 26 (Friday) regarding which event you will attend and the number of guests you will have for the April 17 dinner.
Because of constraints of the logistics and a need to balance the members demand, the organizing committee would appreciate your advance booking ASAP; and where required, may find it necessary to rule on first-come-first-serve in some cases.
Joke & Cartoon A father watched his daughter playing in the garden. He smiled as he reflected on how sweet and innocent his little girl was. Suddenly she just
stopped and stared at the ground. He went over to her and noticed she was looking at two spiders mating."Daddy, what are those two piders doing?" she asked.
"They're mating," her father replied.
"What do you call the spider on top, Daddy?" she asked.
"That's a Daddy Longlegs." Her father answered.
"So, the other one is a Mommy Longlegs?" the little girl asked.
"No," her father replied. "Both of them are Daddy Longlegs."
The little girl thought for a moment, then took her foot and stomped them flat. "Well, that might be OK in California,
but we're not having any of that shit in Texas!!"
Photographs of our Meeting
on
17th March, 2004
Mr. Dominic Notario (from Princeton, USA) our speaker - Rotary's Ambassadorial Scholar studying at CUHK / New Asia College)
Acting Pres. Rudy presents the speaker with,our club banner. 
PDG Uncle Peter jouned Dominic & PE Rudy for a photo. 
Hon. Sec. Eddy and PP Stephen graced the head table. 
A happy foursome - Rtn andy, PP CY, dir Heron & PP Tim.. Dir. Laurence entertained PP Peter Tse (TSTE), Rtn. Tony & PP George.
Group Photo on March 17th, 2004
